This invention relates to a box, the purpose of which is to post or store securely parcels larger than those which can be accommodated through a standard domestic front door letter box.

Most front door letter boxes adhere to a standard size and can accommodate letters, newspapers and small parcels which can fit through its opening of approx 200 x 50mm. Postmen and private delivery services often deliver parcels that are too big to fit through these letter boxes and if the recipient is not in to receive the parcel the deliverer has the problem of what to do. He often leaves the parcel with a neighbour or posts a card through the letterbox to tell the recipient when he will call back or give them an address at which the parcel can be collected. All this time and money wasted simply because the deliverer does not have a safe and secure method of depositing the parcel if the recipient is not in.

According to the present invention there is provided a secure and safe postage storage box that can be fixed to a wall outside a premises for the purpose of depositing parcels bigger than standard letters. Once deposited the parcel cannot be retrieved from the postal opening in the box. The parcel can only be retrieved by a key-holder who has access through the lockable front door opening.

The postman opens the lid of the box which reveals a tray area comprising of two flaps that are connected to the lid. The front flap also consists of a vertical shield which moves with the front flap. The parcel is placed on this tray area. When the lid is closed the tray flaps move down and open up to allow the parcel to drop into the base of the box. When the lid is opened the next time the shield and flaps are brough back up into position to both seal off the parcel containing area and the unit is ready to receive the next parcel for delivery. If the lid is opened halfway, access to the delivered parcels might be possible through the half opened tray flaps but the positioning of the shield prevents this as a security measure.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1. Shows the box square on from the front.

Figure 2. Shows the box in perspective with the lid open revealing the tray flaps lifted up by the links, the shield in position and also the lockable door in an open position.

Figure 3. Shows a cut away side elevation of the box with a parcel being deposited on the tray with the lid fully open.

Figure 4. Shows the lid being lowered and the tray flaps moving down and opening up to allow the parcel to drop in the container below.

Figure 5. Shows the lid fully closed with the parcel safely deposited in the container.

Figure 6. Shows how if someone were to part open the lid and try to access the parcels whilst the flaps are still apart enough to allow this, the shield prevents this access. This is the non-accessibility feature of this design.

Referring to the drawing Fig 2. the box has a lid 2 which is hinged to the body 1 of the box. The lid is connected to two hinged tray flaps 3 by means of link arms 4. Theses link arms lift and lower the flaps according to the position of the lid. The front tray flap also features an integral shield 5 which moves in unison with the flap and lid and acts as a deterrent to prevent access past the opening and closing flaps in order to make the deposited parcels non-retrievable. The deposited parcels can now only be retrieved from the box by means of unlocking and opening the access door at the front. The box is provided with holes 8 drilled in the back for it to be secured to a wall. These holes are only accessible through the opening of the lockable door for security.